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through one of the main distribution channels, the wholesale vegetable market (lachanagora/λαχαναγορά). Additionally, through interviews and numerous informal visits with farmers, the study explored the state of mind of many farmers involved in vegetable production. Through these case studies, it was found that two thirds of vegetables and field fruits (kipeftika/κηπευτικά) produced on the island is kept on the island to meet the needs of the local market. Additionally, it was discovered that for the major mechanism by which these products are distributed to retail operations and institutions (restaurants, hospitals, universities, etc) a great majority of the food is produced locally, resulting in the conclusion, at least in the case of vegetables and fruits (kipeftika/κηπευτικά), that Crete’s food system is highly localized. This, along with the dominant typology of farming as small, diverse farms, puts Crete in a positive position to develop a model for sustainable development in agriculture. The initial intent of this study was to discover the areas where local farmers are being prevented from entering the market. However, upon investigation, this study determined that the majority of farmers are indeed accessing local markets, since the food system is strongly regionally based. The distribution system in Crete, at least in the case of vegetables and fruits produced in the field (kipeftika/κηπευτικά), was found for the most part to be a local or regionalized system, based within the island’s geographic boundaries and more often even within the boundaries of the prefectures of the island. It is for this reason that Crete is actually ahead of the paradigm for agricultural development. Since agriculture on the island has not yet undergone a great level of intensification in agriculture nor developed a system based solely on export production, Crete’s food system has achieved what many developed nations are just now beginning to reinvent. However, it faces some challenges in the fact that the policies are focused around preserving the past rather than integrating the functions of the past into the development of agriculture for the future or solely around production for export.